Zoe in Wonderland

May 23, 2016
Eleven-year-old Zoe Reindeer, a “shy, perfectly plain girl-person” stuck between a popular older sister and a genius younger brother, may be “just Zoe” in real life, but she’s powerful and strong in her frequent daydreams. Zoe wishes she could be more like “Imaginary Zoe” at home and at school, but there are some good things in her real life, too, like her father’s exotic plant store, Doc Reindeer’s Exotic Plant Wonderland, and spending time with her best friend and fellow nerd Quincy. When a tall, mysterious astronomer who hails from Madagascar comes into “the Wonderland” seeking a baobab tree, then returns to give Zoe a book by Carl Sagan, he starts her on a journey toward discovering that she might be more like Imaginary Zoe than she realized. Woods (The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond) handles big challenges—such as Quincy’s move out of town, middle-school hierarchies, and an elderly neighbor with memory loss—with sensitivity and a light touch. Readers will find it easy to sink into Zoe’s warm family life, realistic in its squabbles, worries, and powerfully evident love. Ages 8–12.

Narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson's fresh, youthful voice shares the optimism and enthusiasm of Zoe Reindeer. And optimism is necessary for 11-year-old Zoe as she navigates the role of middle sister, the vagaries of middle school, the loss of her best friend to a move, and her growing awareness of her parents' financial shaky situation. Much of the story is set in an exotic plant nursery. Johnson's modulation and tone are age appropriate for her portrayal of Zoe. Also filled with personality are Johnson's supporting characters--the superior-sounding older sister, the whining younger brother, the father weighed down with problems but also offering comfort to his daughter, and the upbeat best friend. A.R. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine